Catocala serena
kah-TOCK-uh-lah mm sih-REE-nuh
Edwards, 1864

The Serene Underwing, by Harold J. Vermes.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: Noctuidae Group: Noctuinina Subfamily: Catocalinae Genus: Catocala, Schrank, 1802

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DISTRIBUTION: The Catocala serena moth (wingspan: 55-60mm) flies in southern Ontario, New York and Pennsylvania. The head and collar and abdomen are brown while the thorax is grey. The black marginal band of the lower wings is indented at the center, and the relatively narrow, deep yellow median band parallels this indentation. Basal hairs are brown.

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FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala serena flies as a single generation with moths on the wing from July to September. The Catocala serena caterpillar shows a preference for Carya ovata (shagbark hickory) and Juglans nigra (Black walnut).

Moths come in to lights and to bait.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed under leaf litter.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala serena females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS, AND PUPAE: Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring. Mature larvae Image courtesy of

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive, although some species seem very host specific. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Carya ovata Juglans nigra......

Shagbark hickory Black walnut

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